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Fundraiser

Volunteers have been tirelessly hand-painting holiday snowmen made out of wood to support local charity The Animal Guardian Society. The snowmen, 38 by 10 1/2 inches each, are available in a variety of styles, and drop-off and pick-up can be arranged locally. They're $15 each and all proceeds will go to TAGS. If interested in purchasing one, e-mail courtney.tagsvolunteer@gmail.com or comment on the TAGS Facebook page by searching 'The Animal Guardian Society.'

Always toughing out the long line-ups when President's Choice SuperDogs comes to the CNE each summer, I'm a huge fan of the show.

So when the organization set up at the General Motors Centre recently for a free event inviting owners and their dogs to enter the 'Do You Have a SuperDog?' contest, and meet some trainers and watch demonstrations, I had to stop by.

I was happy to learn the organization relays some wonderful messages to pet owners. First, more than 40 per cent of the dogs in the show are from shelters.

"It's a great place to get a dog," says Amy White, general manager and trainer.

Of Amy's six dogs in the show, two are rescues. One, Chili Bean, had been buried alive in Detroit, Michigan, and, thank goodness, rescued. She was happy to give the poor thing a forever home, and a spot in the show.

Leap, a long and lean Ibizan hound that I got to meet, is the highest-jumping dog in the world with a record of 74 inches. Leap is nine and when he shows signs of slowing down, he'll retire. But Leap will remain Amy's pet, as SuperDogs believes in forever homes.

"When they retire, they're just not in the show," she says.

She also suggests owners take advantage of that energy that pet owners can often find themselves overwhelmed by.

In another home, Leap could be a bad dog, jumping fences and creating havoc in the neighbourhood, she says.

"We encourage people when they have a dog with a lot of energy, rather than give it up, ask 'what can I do with that dog?'" she says.

She suggests giving it a job, like running with it. Or they could become a performance dog.

Amy says SuperDogs, for example, allows owners and pets to form incredible bonds. They travel together, make friends together and perform in front of an audience together.

Amy suggests those interested in getting their dog into the performance industry start with basic obedience school, where they'll learn to sit, stay, heel and come. Then have them move onto sports such as flyball. A performance dog must be friendly with people and other dogs. And don't force it; if they'd prefer to just be a regular family dog, then so be it.

There are some great training tips at superdogspectrum.ca.

SuperDogs is bringing its Hip Hop Hooray show to the GM Centre on Dec. 28, and the 'Do You Have SuperDog?' contest winner will appear in the show. The GM Centre says it's the most affordable show between Christmas and New Year's. Tickets start at $18.25 per adult and $13.25 per child. Visit generalmotorscentre.com.

Kristen Calis covers Pickering and writes a pet column for the Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. Anyone with upcoming animal charity events that they would like listed in Kristen’s Kritters can e-mail kcalis@durhamregion.com.